Chapter 90
Tessa’s POV
The clock on the wall hadn’t moved in hours. At least, that’s how it felt.
I was curled up on the edge of the bed, arms wrapped tight around my knees, eyes burning from exhaustion but refusing to close.
Erin sat opposite me in the room Kion and I had been put in, her posture just as stiff, her face pale from the same gnawing worry that clawed through each
of our minds.
We had made it out of the worst place on earth only to send them charging in… and it felt so wrong, as though we had quite literally just switched places?
They were supposed to be back by now, weren’t they?
We hadn’t heard a single thing since Seth and Kane left hours ago – hours that stretched out like the longest nightmare imaginable.
No word. No update. Not even a whisper through the hallways from the guards either.
2
The entire packhouse had gone still at this hour, the kind of stillness that made my stomach twist as if something had gone terribly wrong already.
It was six in the morning now. Still dark. Still cold. Still silent outside.
Erin yawned quietly and adjusted herself a little, but she didn’t sleep either. She hadn’t even tried to.
I glanced again at the window, the sky outside still painted black amongst the fog.
And then
A steady rumble was heard in the distance.
A low growl of tires against stone. The kind of sound that you immediately pick up on when you’ve been waiting for too long for an answer.
Erin sat up straight. “Did you hear that too?”
She questioned as I was already moving off of the bed, rushing toward the window, my heart suddenly up in my throat.
Outside, headlights cut through the thinning dark. A line of trucks- big, battered, military–style transports – rolling in through the perimeter, tyres crunching over gravel as they pulled into formation just beyond the front courtyard.
I pressed my palms to the glass. “It’s them-!” I cheered instantly, giving away a sigh of relief.
But Erin was already on her feet, grabbing for my arm before I could make a move for the door. “Wait, Tessa – stop for a sec. We still don’t know who it is
yet!”
Her words made me freeze.
A gasp caught in my chest as a surge of dread churned in my gut…
She was right… I hadn’t thought of that!
1/4
1:04 am
Chapter 90
What if… what if it actually wasn’t them?
What if Dimitri had won?
What if this was his retaliation by coming here?
Erin’s hand tightened on my wrist, her eyes wide and afraid. “Think, Tess. We can’t go charging out there until we know for sure. What if it’s an ambush or
something?”
I swallowed hard, slowly nodding. She was right. We had to be smart. Careful. We were very much still on Russian soil. Still at risk.
I stepped back to the window and peered down again, heart thudding against my ribs. Guards were rushing from their posts, gathering at the courtyard, weapons in hand- but not raised…
No panic. No alarm. Nothing that suggests danger – yet.
And then the truck doors opened.
My eyes scanned desperately to find who was inside.
Men stepped out first – warriors, some limping, some helping one another down.
I didn’t recognise any of them though, but most of them bore Kion’s pack insignia – the same uniforms the guards inside wore.
My pulse quickened again.
Then… the back doors of the trucks opened.
I held my breath.
And then I saw them.
One by one, climbing their way out steadily.
Women.
Dozens of them. Dirty, bruised, trembling- but alive.
Some were crying. Some carried small children, clutching them tightly. Warriors helped them down gently, offering cloaks and water.
My vision blurred with sudden tears.
“No…” I whispered. “No, this is them- this is them! They’ve done it, Erin!” My voice cracked as I backed away from the window, nearly stumbling. “They’ve actually freed the women from the compound!”
Erin leaned more in to the window, eyes wide. “Oh my god… they’ve actually stopped it!” She breathed too.
“I don’t see Kane anywhere,” I said breathlessly, scanning the faces below with a slight panic returning like a knife to the ribs. “Where is he?”
But in that moment, I didn’t want to wait any longer for an answer.
2/4
1:04 am G P P P
Chapter 90
I turned and bolted from the room.
“Tessa- wait for me!” Erin called after me, racing to catch up.
We didn’t even bother with shoes. We flew down the stairs, feet slapping against the stone steps, hands gripping the railing as we reached the ground floor.
The front door was already in sight, golden light pouring through its narrow windows from the array of headlights now flickering from outside.
But before I could even get the chance to approach it to turn the handle, a broad figure quickly stepped into view, covering the entirety of the door…
It was a guard, not a Russian, but one from Kane’s pack back home this time…
I had never spoke to the man,
but recognised his features as one of Kane’s inner circle.
He was tall, stern–faced and dressed in the same official black uniform as the rest of his men whenever they travelled or done professional jobs.
He planted himself in front of the door, thick arms folded across his chest.
“I can’t let you two go outside,” he said flatly.
I blinked, heart racing. “What? Why not? Everyone’s out there!”
Erin caught up beside me, breathless and pale. “Those are our people out there, that means we’ve won this now, right? We need to see if Kane and Seth are
with them and-”
“You can’t,” the guard said again cutting her off, and for the first time I noticed the tension behind his eyes.
“But why not?” I demanded, stepping forward. “What aren’t you telling us?”
He sighed heavily, glancing back toward the window like he didn’t want to say anything else…
But I wasn’t ready to give up, not yet!
I reached out and grabbed his sleeve. “Just tell us, please? What’s happened? We’ve waited hours for an update!”
His jaw tensed for a second. But just when I thought it was useless
—
he spoke.
“We were instructed to keep you inside until the Alpha and Beta return.” He recited his order as I nodded slowly.
My mouth went dry. “So you’re saying… they’re not back yet?”
He shook his head. “The others returned with the survivors. But Alpha Kane, Alpha Kion, Alpha Viktor and Beta Seth went after Dimitri directly with a small team… and they haven’t been located yet.”
Everything inside me went cold at his words.
The hallway tilted, the air suddenly too thin to breathe.
“Nobody knows where they are?” I choked out, instantly panicked.
3/4
“Not yet,” the guard said softly. “But they will be fine, they are strong.”
I didn’t even realise Erin was holding my hand until she squeezed it and a sob threatened to break through, but I clenched my teeth.
All I want is to have him back with me…
Commente
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
